Cleanthony Early and the Shockers had just improved to 28-0 with a 14-point win at Loyola (Chicago). Earlier that night, Syracuse suffered its first loss in overtime to Boston College, leaving No. 3 Wichita State as the nation's lone undefeated team.

How did Early, a Pine Bush graduate and John Wooden Award semifinalist, feel about Syracuse falling?

"I think those questions that they ask us repeatedly after we have already made a statement is trying to get us to slip up and say something they can put it on the front page," said Early, one of three returning starters from Wichita State's Final Four team last year, Friday. "They are trying to get us to say something different than you said already and make a mistake. I don't think we are the guys to do that. We are going to tell you the truth. We don't care if they lose or win. We are focusing on ourselves."

Early and the Shockers may be college basketball's front-page story for the next six weeks. Wichita State's starting five, which includes Early, who is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game, graced a regional cover of Sports Illustrated this week.

If Wichita State wins its last three Missouri Valley Conference games, it will be the first team since St. Joseph's (Pa.) in 2004 to enter its league tournament undefeated. If Wichita State wins its first Missouri Valley championship since 1987, the Shockers would be in the same company as the 1991 UNLV team, the last to start the NCAA tournament unbeaten. Bobby Knight led Indiana to Division I's last perfect season in 1976.

"Last year, they (Wichita State) was under the radar," said Steve Lappas, a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports Network. "This year, they have the experience factor. But, right now, they have expectations and with expectations comes more pressure.

"They have a good chance of going into the NCAA tournament undefeated and that's a big cross to bear. They are the only undefeated team left so the pressure is getting to get bigger."

Wichita State is packing arenas across the Missouri Valley Conference. Loyola drew 4,577 fans Wednesday, almost 2,000 more than its best crowd this season. The Shockers nearly filled Indiana State's 10,200-seat Hulman Center, bringing in 9,245 fans.

"Everyone wants to beat us," Early said. "They view it as kind of turning their season around and it makes their season. ... We are above that radar now."

Early and Wichita State host Drake (14-13) Saturday, travel to Bradley (11-17) Tuesday and close their regular-season schedule against Missouri State (17-10) next Saturday at home. Early has a warning for the Shockers' future opponents.

"I always understand that there's always room for improvement." Early said. "I'm pretty happy how we are playing because we are winning games. But, I know that we can play way better than we have been playing. We've been playing good but I don't think we have played our best basketball yet and that's what excites me the most."